BOGS (The Bell, Odell
Golfing Society): This year’s outing to Oundle Golf Club was on 4th April.

Pictured above: 2007 winner
Jon Ardley handing over the cup to winner Rob Carrington who also won the
‘nearest to pin’ prize.

Sean Goodman won the prize
for the longest drive.

Fete
Committee – Help Needed!

The Odell Village Fete has been part of
village life for many years.

People from far around make a point of
attending the fete every year and many have said how special the event is.
Behind the fete though is a body of people making it happen, and master minding
it all is of course the Committee. In recent years numbers on the Committee
have dropped so low that now the Fete is in jeopardy. Can you give some of your
time to keep this tradition (and source of much needed income for the village)
alive? If you are willing to join the Committee and do your bit for the village
call Steve on 720113.

Fete
Committee Painting Day

Painting of
signs etc. for the fete will take place at Jim and Doreen Wheeler’s, Linden
House, High Street, Odell, on Monday 5th May from 10.00am.

There will be
a lunch time bar-b-q for helpers - please let Doreen know (720358) if you wish
to stay for this. Bring your own meat, salad provided.

May 2008

Round
and About

A Towering Experience

Did you visit the church over the open
weekend?Ever since I heard that the church tower would be open I was determined
to climb it.I had heard the views from the top were fantastic and if only the
weather held good my camera and I were going to be there and record the views.

I visited the church on Saturday
afternoon.It was a beautiful, if somewhat windy, day and the sun shone brightly
with large fluffy clouds passing in stately procession.As I approached the
church the gateway was festooned with bunting gently lifting in the breeze.In
the churchyard the last of the daffodils were still in bloom and the grass was
studded with primroses.The church door stood invitingly open with the general
buzz of conversation all around.

I
joined a small party gathering at the foot of the tower.As we awaited our turn
to enter the narrow stairwell we chatted together and it was a happy little band
that presently began to mount the steps.

After climbing a short distance a small
stairwayto the right.This led to the gallery overlooking the nave and also
housed the organ.A slightly longer climb brought us to the bell ringers’chamber.
Mounting the next stage of the stairway became increasingly difficult.The steps,
at best narrow, were more or less in darkness and I had to feel my wayI could
see absolutely nothing.Round and round, up and up, we went.Past the clock,
onwards and upwards and then daylight appeared.This proved to be the bell
chamber wherehad a chance to look down on the bells - still and silent.

From
here on it was just climbing, up the spiral stairway.Now it was really dark.Now
the knees really began to ache and, yes, I admit it, my breathing was very
laboured.We passed two narrow slit windows, covered in chicken wire (to keep the
birds out - presumably) and then.... daylight.I won’t pretend - by now I was
glad to see it.It heralded the end of the climb.

The tower, however, held one more
challenge.The tower stairway spiralled to the right, but to get out on to the
roof you had to rotate your body to the left, against the flow of thepillar.The
doorway itself was also a challenge. A high lintel had to be stepped over as you
ducked through a small, low, doorway of Alice in Wonderland proportions.Now, I
am not very tall and I had to bend myself double to get through, so how a tall
man would negotiate the doorway must have been very challenging.

But
ahead was the brightsky and with the aid of ahand I fairly shot through the
gap....and the views were worth every agonising step of the way.The views
towards Sharnbrook and Felmersham were amazing.The open countryside just fell
away.On a dull day, however, I don't suppose the view would have been half as
rewarding.Sadly the views across the lakes were not so photogenic because, as I
am sure you all know....the afternoon sun lies in that direction and the dazzle
was extreme.I did take one photograph, however, more in hope than expectation.
Wonderful views across Tannery Lane but the main part of the village was
obscured by the trees on Castle hill. Then, it was time to return. With one last
glance around I approached that door, but the hardest part of all was to get
organised for the descent as I tried to negotiate getting on to that spiral
stair.Everything was back to front, due to that odd little chicane in the steps
at that first top corner.Once this had been resolved the descent began in
earnest.It was all happy chatter as we discussed what we had seen.Then - shocked
silence as we all came to a startled standstill.The clock bells rang out right
beside our ears.After a short pause I think everybody laughed.

On reaching the ground floor it was nice
to be met with a cup of tea and a piece of cake - and best of all, a relieved
chance to sit down.By now my knees were glowing.

I have to say, I wouldn't have missed
it. I was determined to climb those stairs.I knew it was not going to be easy,
but the rewards were great.I am putting the whole thing down to an experience
that I am glad to have achieved ... but have no wish to repeat!

Barbara Corley

Senior Citizens’ Summer Garden Party

Odell Luncheon Club invites you to a strawberry tea

In Jim and Doreen Wheeler’s garden:

Linden House, 93 High Street, Odell,

On Wednesday 16th July at 3.00pm

All senior citizens are invited.

Please let Jill Cheadle (720261) know by Sunday 6th
July if you wish to come.

W.I. News

We welcomed Linda Rodell of Bedfordshire
County Council Recycling Team to our meeting this month. She gave us a slide
presentation on the current practices within Bedfordshire and some amazing
statistics on the amount of rubbish we as individuals can send to landfill sites
every week. She then went on to detail the ways we can all help to recycle and
to explain why they don’t take some materials but suggested other avenues for
their disposal. She was an excellent speaker and answered the numerous
questions well.

As a bonus she was accompanied by a
colleague who had a detailed knowledge of the dos and don’ts of home composting
who was hoping to inspire us to take advantage of the subsidised compost bins.
She too was happy to answer queries from members who were already composting but
having problems getting started.

NEXT MEETING

This will be held on Tuesday May 13th
at 7.30 in the Village Hall. This will be our AGM when we look backwards at what
we have achieved and look forward to the coming year.

COMPETITION

No competition this month instead we
congratulate our winner for the year.

HOSTESSES

Rachel Halton & Pat Harris

Rachel Halton 720572

Harrold-Odell
Country Park

Carlton Road, Harrold, Bedford MK43 7DS

Email: hocp@bedscc.gov.uk
Website: www.hocp.net

The Park has now got a skate park. This
is situated parallel to the Carlton Road, lakeside of the shelter belt of trees
beyond the Visitor Centre. Bring your skateboard and try it out.

Look at the notice board at the rear of
the Visitor Centre to see the wildlife to look out for.

Monday 12th May 10am –
12pm

Digital Photography

Don’t know one end of the camera from
the other? Come along to this beginner’s session. Learn how to operate your
own camera and take some photographs in the Park.

You will need to pre-register for this
event.

This event is free but donations are
welcome.

Please contact us for further details.

Friends of Harrold-Odell Country Park
Conservation tasks 2007

Come and join in with practical work to enhance the park for
wildlife and visitors on the following date:

Monday 19th May 10am – 3pm

Wear warm clothing and footwear.

Hot drinks provided.

Come for an hour or two or stay as long as you like.

Marvellous Medieval May at Bromham
Mill!

Medieval May Celebration at Bromham
Water Mill, Bromham

Sunday 25th May and Monday 26th
May 2008 open 11am until 5pm both days with last admission at 4 pm.

Fun for all the family and a chance to
sample life in the 15th century in the living history camp. Our
unique working watermill is also open on both days with information about
country crafts and the Bedfordshire Countryside.

It you want to have your say on what
health care services are provided in your area or what improvements the Practice
can make, please come and join us. We need representatives from all the
villages that have patients that use the Practice.

Our latest project is working in
partnership with Wellingborough Community Transport with the aim of setting up a
Medical Car Service, to take Elderly and Disabled residents to their
medical/hospital appointments. We need volunteer drivers who are willing to use
their own cars and give their time to help less able members of the
community.Mileage expenses are paid. If you are interested, then call 01933
228844 for more details.

The next meeting of the Friends is to be
held at the Surgery, Peach’s Close Harrold on Tuesday 20 May 2008 at 7.30pm. If
you would like to find out more about the Friends and the work that we do please
contact:

Frances Hirst tel 01234 825212

Waste
Paper Collection - Thank
you for bringing your waste paper to the bins. Though the return is small, every
little bit helps financially and of course the waste is recycled.

Rob
Lee (720730)
on behalf of the Village Hall Committee.

The
Mill Theatre, Sharnbrook

Reg. Charity No 242164

The Fix- 16th – 24th May, 7.45pm

By John Dempsey and Dana P Rowe

Regional Premiere – think Kennedy the
Musical!

A musical tale of sex, scandal and rock
and roll! A dramatic adaptation of one American family’s greed, desires and
passion to conquer politics!

An amateur production in association
with Joseph Weinberger.

Tickets available from

Sharnbrook Post Office (in
person)

& Bedford Central Box
Office 269519*

10% discount for parties of 10 or more
(excluding Charity performances).

*To book wheelchair space.

NB Hearing loop rows A-E only.

For programme details please visit
www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk

Back to
Broadway

Four young professionals bring your favourite West End Musical selections to
life, in 4 spectacular and colourful performances atThe
Mill Theatre
-

They have already appeared across the West Midlands to great acclaim….

Performances:

Thursday 12th June in aid of Solvit.

Friday 13th June in aid of Barnardos

Saturday
14th June in aid of Rushden Rotary

Sunday 15th
June in aid of Bansang Hospital, Gambia

Tickets:
£15, to include a glass of wine, with all proceeds going to charity.

Available from Sharnbrook Post Office or 01832 730255.

ADOPT A GRAVE
– Most of the more recent graves in our churchyard are tended with care and
their flowers and plants contribute to the beauty and peace of our lovely
churchyard. But we also have a number of very old graves that have no one to
tend them, and some of these have become overgrown with weeds. We would like to
clear these and plant them up with wild flower seeds which we have been given,
but it will take some time to get round them all. Please let Christine know
(720234) if you would like to help with this task by ‘adopting’ a grave to look
after.

Diary

5th
10am Painting fete signs, Linden Ho., High St. Odell

10th 7.30 for
8.00pm Quiz, Odell Village Hall.

12th 10am-12noon
Digital Photography at HOCP.

12th
8pm Meeting of ‘Pilgrims’ at Rectory.

13th
7.30pm W.I. AGM, Odell Village Hall.

14th
10.30am Meeting Point at Catherine’s, Manor Cottage, Harrold.

17th 9.45am
All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell.

17th
11.00am Coffee Morning in aid of Fragile X, 23 Horsefair
Lane.

19th 10am – 3pm
HOCP Conservation Tasks.

25th 11am – 5pm
Bromham Mill Medieval May.

26th “
“ “ “ “ “

26th
8pm Meeting of ‘Pilgrims’ at Rectory

Magazine Deadline

Please send all entries for the June
2008 magazine to Tricia Hudson (mag1@odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by
May 12th 2008 at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial
team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are
submitted. Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the
contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.